Miniature coaxial connecter with micro-switch

ABSTRACT

A miniature coaxial connecter with a micro-switch comprises a signal terminal and a grounding element; the signal terminal is provided with an elastic portion and a first combination portion; the elastic portion is provided with a long slot used for adjusting elasticity thereof; the grounding element is provided with a contact portion and a second combination portion; a front section of the contact portion is provided with tabs bended toward the elastic portion; the elastic portion is wider and the connection length of it and the first combination portion is longer to allow it rather not to be deformed by an external force. Besides, the wider grounding element is provided with the tabs. Whereby, the connecter is manufactured more easily and the manufacturing yield can be elevated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to n electric connecter, and moreparticularly to a miniature coaxial connecter with a micro-switch.

2. Description of Related Art

There are many electric connecters with a switch, such as thosedisclosed in Taiwan Patent NOS. I260115, I250701 and I232011 and U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,989,046, 6,390,840, 6,659,789, 6,761,571, 6,932,615 and7,080,997.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. A conventional miniature coaxialconnecter 10 with a micro-switch is constituted by a metal housing 11,an insulator 12, a signal terminal 13 and a grounding element 14.

The front and the rear ends of the metal housing 11 are respectivelyprovided with a first cylinder body 111 and a fixing portion 112; abuckling hole 113 is disposed on each side of the first portion 112; anaccepting groove 114 is further disposed on the first fixing portion112.

The front and the rear ends of the insulator 12 are respectivelyprovided with a second cylinder body 121 and a second fixing portion122; a tenon 123 gradually expanded outward from the front end thereoftoward the rear end thereof is disposed on each side of the secondfixing portion 122; the second fixing portion 122 is further providedwith first and second insertion grooves 124 and 125 extended up to therear end thereof. Furthermore, first and second extension portions 126and 127 are respectively disposed at the rear ends of the two sides ofthe second fixing portion 122 and the lower ends thereof arerespectively higher than the rear ends of the two sides of the secondfixing portion 122.

The front and the rear ends of a signal terminal 13 are respectivelyprovided with an elastic portion 131 and a first combination portion132; the elastic portion 131 is provided with a tab 133 extended outwardfrom a first side thereof; the front and the rear ends of the firstcombination portion 132 are respectively provided with a front notch 134and a rear notch 135; the lower end of the rear end of the firstcombination portion 132 is provided with a first sheet 136 extendedoutward from a second side thereof. A tenon 137 is disposed on the upperend of the first combination portion 132.

The front and the rear ends of the grounding element 14 are respectivelyprovided with a contact portion 141 and a second combination portion142; a rear notch 143 is disposed on the rear end of the secondcombination portion 142; the lower end of the rear end of the secondcombination portion 142 is provided with a second sheet 144 extendedoutward from a first side thereof. A tenon 145 is disposed on the upperend of the second combination portion 142.

The elastic portion 131 and the front section of the first combinationportion 132 of the signal terminal 13 are respectively accepted in thesecond cylinder body 121 and the first insertion groove 124 of theinsulator 12; the first sheet 136 is propped against the lower side ofthe first extension portion 126. The tenon 137 is buckled in the firstinsertion groove 124. The contact portion 141 and the front section ofthe second combination portion 142 of the grounding element 14 arerespectively accepted in the second cylinder portion 121 and the secondinsertion groove 125; the second sheet 144 is propped against the lowerside of the second extension portion 127. The tenon 145 is buckled inthe second insertion groove 125. The second cylinder body 121 and thefront section of the second fixing portion 122 of the insulator 12 arerespectively accepted in the first cylinder body 111 and the firstfixing portion 112 of the metal housing 11; the tenon 123 is engagedwith the buckling hole 113.

The elastic portion 131 and the contact portion 141 are respectivelypositioned in the second cylinder body 121, and the front end of theelastic portion 131 is inclined away from the direction of the contactportion 141, the tab 133 is brought into contact with the contactportion 141 to from an electric combination state. A male terminal willdrive the front end of the elastic portion 131 away from the contactportion 141 when the male terminal is inserted into the second cylinderbody 121 to cause the tab 133 not to contact with the contact portion141.

The elastic portion 131 of the signal terminal 13 mentioned above israther long and thin such that it can meet the requirement ofelasticity. As the lower end of the joinder of the elastic portion 131and the first combination portion 132 is provided with the front notch134, the connection length of the elastic portion 131 and the firstcombination portion 132 is shorter, the combination structure is apt tobe deformed by an external force to cause the tab 133 not to contactwith the contact portion 141 to lose the switch function. Besides,because the tab 133 is connected to the longer and thinner elasticportion 131, it is not easy to be bended while manufacturing, andbecause it is inclined an angle with the elastic portion 131 if a slighterror happens, the tab 133 can comparatively not contact with thecontact portion 141 stably such that a defective is caused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving the structure of a miniature coaxial connecter with amicro-switch to allow the manufacturing thereof is more convenient andthe manufacturing defective fraction to be decreased, the presentinvention is proposed.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a miniaturecoaxial connecter with a micro-switch, allowing an elastic portion of asignal terminal to be wider, the connection length of the elasticportion and a combination portion to be longer and the structure thereofnot to be deformed while subjecting to an external force so as toelevate the manufacturing yield.

An other object of the present invention is to provide a miniaturecoaxial connecter with a micro-switch, allowing a wider groundingelement to be provided with a tab so as to be manufactured more easily,and a tab to be mounted on unmoved grounding element to touch a movablesignal terminal more easily so as to elevate the manufacturing yield.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a miniaturecoaxial connecter with a micro-switch, allowing a metal housing to beprovided with a rear cover so as to elevate the signal transmissionquality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional connecter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional connecter;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, showing a connecter of a first preferredembodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, showing a connecter of the first preferredembodiment according to the present invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are schematic views, respectively showing stepsof an assembly process of a connecter of the first preferred embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view, showing a connecter of the first preferredembodiment according to the present invention and another connecterbefore coupling;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view, showing a connecter of the firstpreferred embodiment according to the present invention and anotherconnecter before coupling;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view, showing a connecter of the firstpreferred embodiment according to the present invention and anotherconnecter after coupling;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, showing a connecter of the first preferredembodiment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, showing a connecter of a second preferredembodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. A miniature coaxial connecter with amicro-switch according to the present invention is used for allowing themanufacturing of the connecter to be more convenient. A connecter 20 ofa first preferred embodiment according to the present inventioncomprises a metal housing 21, an insulator 22, a signal terminal 23 anda grounding element 24.

The front and the rear ends of the metal housing 21 are respectivelyprovided with a cylinder body 211 and a first fixing portion 212; afirst buckling portion 213 such as a buckling tab is disposed on eachside of the first fixing portion 212 and an accepting groove 214 isfurther disposed on the first fixing portion 212; the rear end of theaccepting groove 214 is provided with an opening 215.

The front and the rear ends of the insulator 22 are respectivelyprovided with a second cylinder body 221 and a second fixing portion222; a second buckling portion 223 such as a buckling hole correspondingto the buckling tab is disposed on each side of the second fixingportion 222 and the second fixing portion 222 is further provided withfirst and second insertion grooves 224 and 225 extended up to the rearend thereof.

The front and the rear ends of the signal terminal 23 are respectivelyprovided with an elastic portion 231 and a first combination portion232, in which the elastic portion 231 is deflected outward from a firstside of the signal terminal 23 and a bended section 233 disposed at thefront end thereof is bended outward from a second side thereof; theelastic portion 231 also has a long slot 234 disposed thereon; the lowerend of the rear end of the first combination portion 232 is providedwith a first sheet 235 extended outward from a second side thereof.Furthermore, a buckling tenon 236 is disposed on the second side of thefirst portion 232.

The front and the rear ends of the grounding element 24 are respectivelyprovided with a contact portion 241 and a second combination portion242, in which a front section of the contact portion 241 is providedwith tabs 243 bended outward from a second side thereof and the lowerend of the rear end of the second combination portion 242 is providedwith a second sheet 244 extended outward from a first side thereof.Furthermore, a buckling tenon 245 is provided on the first side of thesecond combination portion 242.

Please refer to FIGS. 5A to 5D. When the connecter 20 of the presentinvention is assembled, the elastic portion 231 and the firstcombination portion 232 of the signal terminal 23 are respectivelyallowed to accept in the second cylinder body 221 and the firstinsertion groove 224. The first sheet 235 is propped against the lowerside of the inner side of the insulator 22 and extended out of the rearend thereof. The buckling tenon 236 is buckled in the first insertiongroove 224. And then, the contact portion 241 and the second combinationportion 242 of the grounding element 24 are respectively allowed toaccept in the second cylinder body 221 and the second insertion groove225 of the insulator 22. The second sheet 244 is propped against thelower side of the inner side of the insulator 22 and extended out of therear end thereof and the buckling tenon 245 is buckled in the secondinsertion groove 225. Furthermore, the second cylinder body 221 and thesecond fixing portion 222 of the insulator 22 are respectively accept inthe first cylinder body 211 of the metal housing 21 and the acceptinggroove 214 of the first fixing portion 212. The first and the secondbuckling portions 213 and 223 are engaged with each other, and theassembly of the connecter 20 is finally completed.

Please refer to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. FIGS. 6 and 7 show that a maleterminal 31 of a connecter 30 is not inserted in the connecter 20 yet.Because the elastic portion 231 of the signal terminal 23 is deflectedoutward from the first side thereof, i.e. inclined toward the contactportion 241, this enable the elastic portion 231 to be elasticallybrought into contact with the tabs 243 as FIG. 7 shows. When the maleterminal 31 is inserted into the second cylinder body 221 to contactwith the elastic portion 231 and in the meantime, drive the elastic 231to separate from the tabs 243, the tabs 243 will then not contact withelastic portion 231; the bended section 233 at the front end of theelastic portion 231 has the function of guiding the mail terminal 31 tocontact with the elastic portion 231 as FIG. 8 shows.

Please refer to FIG. 3 again. The design that the long slot 234 disposedon the elastic portion 231 of the signal terminal 23 is used to adjustthe elasticity thereof allows the elastic portion 231 to be wider tohave a longer connection length to connect with the first combination232; it is rather not be deformed when an external is exerted and keepscontacting with the tabs 243. Besides, because the tabs 243 are disposedon the wider contact portion 241 of the grounding element 24, it is easyto bend the tab 243 while manufacturing and because the tab 243 is fixedon the unmoved grounding element 24, it can contact with the elasticportion 231 more stably even if the bended angle of the tab 243 isslightly missed. Therefore, a defective is not caused.

Please refer to FIGS. 3, 9 and 10. A connecter 40 of a second preferredembodiment according to the present invention is provided with almostthe same structures and the functions as the connecter 20 shown in FIGS.3 and 9, except the rear end of a metal housing 41 is connected to arear cover 411 used for shielding an opening of the rear end of anaccepting groove of the metal housing 41. The rear cover 411 is providedwith notches 412 and 413 respectively accepting the first and the secondsheets 235 and 244 to allow the rear cover 411 not to contact with thefirst and the second sheets 235 and 244. A large part of structures ofthe signal terminal 23 and the grounding element 24 are allowed to coverin the accepting groove by the metal housing 41 except the rear ends ofthe first and the second sheets 235 and 244 through the rear cover 411to prevent them from being interfered by other electromagnetic wavesoutside the metal housing 41 to elevate the signal transmission qualityof the signal terminal 23.

The miniature coaxial connecter with a micro-switch of the presentinvention allows the elastic portion of the signal terminal to be widerand the connection length of the elastic portion and the firstcombination portion to be longer; it allows the elastic portion not tobe deformed by an external force so as to elevate the manufacturingyield. Furthermore, the wider grounding element is allowed to providewith the tabs, this made the manufacturing to be easier, and the tabsdisposed on the unmoved grounding element can touch the movable signalterminal more easily so that the manufacturing yield can be elevated.Furthermore, the metal housing is allowed to provide with the rearcover; it can elevate the signal transmission quality.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A miniature coaxial connecter with a micro-switch, comprising: ametal housing, front and rear ends thereof being respectively providedwith a first cylinder body and a first fixing portion; said first fixingportion being provided with an accepting groove; a rear end of saidaccepting groove being provided with an opening; an insulator, front andrear ends thereof being respectively provided with a second cylinderbody and a second fixing portion; said second fixing portion beingprovided with first and second insertion grooves extended up to a rearend thereof; said second cylinder body and said second fixing portionbeing respectively accepted in said first cylinder body and saidaccepting groove; a signal terminal, front and rear ends thereof beingrespectively provided with an elastic portion and a first combinationportion; said elastic portion and said first combination portion beingrespectively accepted in said second cylinder body and said firstinsertion groove; and a grounding element, front and rear ends thereofbeing respectively provided with a contact portion and a secondcombination portion; said contact portion and said second combinationportion being respectively accepted in said second cylinder body andsaid second insertion groove; wherein, said elastic portion is providedwith a long slot and thereby used for adjusting the electricity thereofto allow said elastic portion to be wider; a front section of saidcontact portion is provided with tabs bended toward said elasticportion; said elastic portion is inclined toward said contact portion tocontact with said tabs elastically; whereby, when a male terminal isinserted into said second cylinder body to bring into contact with saidelastic portion and in the meantime, drive said elastic portion toseparate from said tabs to cause the tabs not to contact with saidelastic portion.
 2. The connecter according to claim 1, wherein a lowerend of a rear end of said first combination is provided with a firstsheet propped against a lower side of an inner side of said insulator.3. The connecter according to claim 2, wherein a lower end of a rear endof said second combination portion is provided with a second sheetpropped against a lower side of an inner side of said insulator.
 4. Theconnecter according to claim 3, wherein corresponding first and secondcoupling portions engaged with each other are respectively disposed onsides of said first and said second fixing portions.
 5. The connecteraccording to claim 4, wherein said first combination portion is providedwith a buckling tenon buckled in said first insertion groove.
 6. Theconnecter according to claim 5, wherein said second combination isprovided with a buckling tenon buckled in said second insertion groove.7. The connecter according to claim 6, wherein said first and saidsecond buckling portions respectively are corresponding buckling tab andbuckling hole.
 8. The connecter according to claim 7, wherein said firstand said second sheets are respectively extended out of a rear end ofsaid insulator.
 9. The connecter according to claim 8, wherein a rearend of said metal housing is connected with a rear cover used forshielding an opening of a rear end of said accepting groove.
 10. Theconnecter according to claim 8, wherein a rear end of said metal housingis connected with a rear cover; said rear cover shields an opening of arear end of said accepting groove and is provided with two notches usedfor respectively accepting said first and said second sheets extendedout of a rear end of said insulator.
 11. The connecter according toclaim 1, wherein a rear end of said metal housing is connected with arear cover used for shielding an opening of a rear end of said acceptinggroove.
 12. The connecter according to claim 2, wherein a rear end ofsaid metal housing is connected with a rear cover used for shielding anopening of a rear end of said accepting groove.
 13. The connecteraccording to claim 3, wherein a rear end of said metal housing isconnected with a rear cover used for shielding an opening of a rear endof said accepting groove.
 14. The connecter according to claim 4,wherein a rear end of said metal housing is connected with a rear coverused for shielding an opening of a rear end of said accepting groove.15. The connecter according to claim 5, wherein a rear end of said metalhousing is connected with a rear cover used for shielding an opening ofa rear end of said accepting groove.
 16. The connecter according toclaim 6, wherein a rear end of said metal housing is connected with arear cover used for shielding an opening of a rear end of said acceptinggroove.
 17. The connecter according to claim 7, wherein a rear end ofsaid metal housing is connected with a rear cover used for shielding anopening of a rear end of said accepting groove.